Letters to the Editor - October 4, 2012

Thursday

Oct 4, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Figueredo invited for coffee

To the Editor:

In reply to B.J. Figueredo's Sept. 27 letter which is quite critical of me, I'd like to invite Mr. Figueredo to join me for a cup of coffee at an establishment of his choice. I'd be happy to pay for his cup, if he's comfortable with that.

I sincerely extend this invitation because I have no interest in attacking him or in defending myself. Such a letter by me, no matter how sanely and intelligently written, would likely only further polarize the situation.

Let's face it, it's easy to drop a bomb on someone from the safe distance of a letter in the newspaper. But when you meet face to face in a civilized manner, it allows for the possibility of greater respect.

In getting to know each other as real human beings instead of as easy-to-bomb, two-dimensional targets, Mr. Figueredo and I may discover we share some common interests. It's possible.

It's that possibility for real interaction which interests me more than the depressing negativity of attack/counter-attack in politics. So I make an appeal to Mr. Figueredo's goodwill.

If Mr. Figueredo agrees to meet me, and if he wants to know what I think of his letter, I'd be happy to respectfully tell him over a cup of coffee. I believe that's mature.

But perhaps you've already made up your mind. Let's face it, it's easy to just throw your vote away by simply voting for the lesser of two evils.

Alex J. Boros

Rochester

Not your father's Republicans

To the Editor:

Deja vu 2010! The candidates fielded by the NH GOP are telling us once again that they will create jobs and fix our economy. Do you remember hearing that two years ago? And what did they do? They went after women's healthcare, tried to interfere between employers and employees, decimated the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, attacked our public education, and tried to take away the civil rights granted our gay and lesbian neighbors. This stealth agenda has left our economy lagging our neighbors' growing prosperity. In fact we've lost jobs!

It reminds me of the promise at the national level that if we only give the richest among us enough tax cuts, the benefits will trickle down to us. We've been buying that for 30 years now, and what did it get us? The greatest income inequality since the Gilded Age. The middle class is in crisis, and we're the drivers of our economy, the people with decent incomes and secure employment who create the demand that drives job creation.

You think the NH GOP has changed its mind and seen the light? The Concord Monitor recently discovered that a couple hundred proposed bills were being hidden by Speaker O'Brien until after the election. Suddenly they are appearing on the House website, and guess what? It's a repeat of what they didn't get passed in the last two years.

We saw how party discipline works over the last two years as well. "Vote the GOP line, or else" was the rule for the majority party, and they purged the ranks in the primary this year. Ask your GOP candidates if they can stand up to this sort of bullying, because it's not going to be your father's Republicans running things if they keep the legislature.

Lucy Edwards

Northwood

Who are the extremists?

To the Editor:

Let's look back. Millions of people, on their own dime, from all across the country, descended on Washington D.C. on Sept. 12, 2009 to protest the out of control spending and fight for limited government, the rule of law and our constitution. They came home with a purpose, they got involved. They became leaders and activists of various sorts in their communities to advance the above mentioned causes with their principles and values intact. A true grass roots movement.

Whereas, the occupy movement, the 99 percent, started and promoted by the extreme left wing of the Democrat party and funded in large part by unions, illegally squat on public property causing millions of dollars in damages. There were rapes, public indecency, murders, along with pimping teenage girls (in Manchester), property destruction, defecating on police vehicles, along with many other criminal activities, while many were getting paid to protest.

To date, we have Maggie Hassan, running for governor, the Democrats and the media claiming the Tea Party as extremists while sympathizing with the out of control occupiers that want free handouts. It appears that the democrats are truly losing their grasp on what is right and wrong for America's future.

The freedom of this country is at stake in this Nov. 6 election. Our only option is to vote out the real extremists till they become irrelevant and have to come back to reality with some inkling of common sense and sound judgment. I ask that you join me in voting a straight Republican ticket. There are solid individuals running, that will represent this state and its people, with strong and sound principles and values. This is a do or die election for our country. Every vote counts.

Randy Bowen

Gonic

It's all about jobs

To the Editor:

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs everyone agrees on this. We want more jobs for Rochester to continue the recovery from the Great Recession. But what is the issue today in Rochester and the state that has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country?

"We know that while the unemployment rate has improved, it is still higher than the historical average. But it is not clear whether unemployment is high because workers lack the necessary skills, or because many employers are reluctant to hire in a still weakened economy because of low demand." (New England Partnership Report, May 2012.)

Within the frame work that our state has had a net out- migration over the last four years why do we not have fuller employment? A. Our industries are currently running at full employment because of maximum use of technology which means high productivity and fewer workers. B. On the other hand, many high tech jobs are unfilled do so due to lack of qualified employees. (The highest rate of unemployment is in low skilled worker pool.) C. We have limited demand for the unskilled worker especially in construction - no demand for new housing or plants. Government infrastructure employment is drying up due the drying up of stimulus funding. (Remember in six months the big Spaulding turnpike project will end.)

The Rochester Development Office working with the Democratic governor and $4.5 million federal loan brought in Saffran USA which will employ 400 workers over the objective of Rochester Republicans. The NH-DRED commissioner said "we commend the city of Rochester in bringing in this quality Companyż." This would not have happened if you did not pay in with your tax dollars. At the same time, the new Republican state budget cut the tobacco tax with no resulting increase in tobacco sales - money for job training. Republicans cut job training programs by giving the UNH system its biggest budget cut in history at the very time UNH is struggling to complete the new Paul Business School addition, a major component in training highly skilled workers. Seventy million dollars is unavailable to fund our state government today because of the decisions made by Gov. Benson in 2004.

Remember the theory, "you got to spend money to make money?" The Republicans praise themselves on the biggest state budget cut in recent memory, but the revenue projections have not come through to help build jobs.

David P. Miller

Rochester

House candidate Wards 2-3

Don't make Medicare a voucher program

To the Editor:

Medicare makes a difference. It keeps older people healthy. But Congressmen Frank Guinta and Paul Ryan voted to ruin Medicare by changing it to a voucher program. Seniors would have to shop around for health care.

Having shopped around for Medicare supplemental plans for myself and Medicare Prescription plans for my mother, I can tell you it is not easy. It is a process I would not recommend for anybody, computer savvy or not. Also, the voucher would not/could not keep up with the rising costs of medical care. This is wrong, and proves Congressman Guinta is wrong for seniors and their families.

Do not vote for Congressman Frank Guinta if you believe Medicare should not turn into a voucher program.

Salme Perry

Rollinsford

Roman occupation?

To the Editor:

In Farmington's September issue of the Puddledock, there is a piece on page 11: "Jeannette Donovan Receives Boston Post Cane." There's a fine photo of three selectmen presenting the cane to Jeannette, and at the bottom of the page, there's a note mentioning that the selectmen's secretary, Megan Taylor Fetter, reminds us that there are three other centurions in town.

Huh? Centurions in Farmington? What legion is based in Farmington? Could it possibly be Varus's lost legion?

Jane Wingate

Farmington

Soldiers' Helpers thank you

To the Editor:

Soldiers' Helpers would like to give a big thank you to the T.A.P.S. group at Turbocam in Barrington for their most generous contribution to us. After our June mailing, our toiletries and a number of other items were completely depleted and our shipping funds were basically gone. With Turbocam's help we have 24 boxes that had been waiting to be mailed that can now go to our troops. So thank you very very much. They have been a very big help to our group this year and we truly appreciate it.

Also, thank you to everyone who came by the Soldiers' Helper booth at Hay Day, recently. We have a lot of postcards now that can be put in with our care packages and we received some donations and sold quite a few raffle tickets and other small items. So thank you very much for your help. We will ill be able to report on the progress of the hats for the WWII Veterans who go on the Honor Flight to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.

If you would like any further information about Soldiers' Helpers, please email me at pudgyaunt99aol.com or call (603) 781-4195. Thank you again for all your help,

Alice and Chris Greenleaf

Soldiers' Helpers

Rochester

Enough dishonesty in politics

To the Editor:

One would have to say what is wrong with this picture? Upon checking the qualifications on the state of NH website (http://sos.nh.gov/Qualifications.aspx), it states State Representative — Must be 18 years of age, a registered voter and domiciled in New Hampshire for at least two years. Must live in town or ward you are a candidate for.

On Sept. 20, a number of Rochester citizens presented themselves before the Ballot Commission at the state capital with the assistance of Rep. Cliff Newton. I was appalled to find out that Mrs. Anne Grassie admitted that she had not moved to 146 Brock St. (Ward 4) as she had stated back in June when she registered to run as a state representative. Yet, because her intent is to move she gets to stay on the ballot.

I realize that times have changed, but let me tell you in my time, nobody would ever think of deceiving their constituents in such a manner. Her excuse for not moving is worse than the lie she has perpetrated. Her bedroom furniture doesn't fit into the other house. Well missy, in my day we took those things into consideration when we moved. So, if she did not move, how is it that she was able to vote in Ward 4? By her own admission she does not/has not lived in Ward 4. In my day, this would be considered voter fraud! She even deceived our own City Clerk by spinning her web.

I do not care what one's party affiliation is, this is wrong on so many levels; in my opinion she is no longer fit to be in office. If the shoe was on the other foot, and it was anybody but Mrs. Grassie, those people would be in serious trouble.

The intent was for Mrs. Grassie to deceive the voters into thinking something that is false. When I was younger, we voted those individuals out, I hope this happens to her. There is enough dishonesty in politics that we do not need it rubbed in our faces! I must say there is a total lack of integrity with this woman!

Eleanor Cissell

Rochester

'War on women' doesn't exist

To the Editor:

I have no reason to doubt Lucy Edwards' sincerity, but when I read her letter in last week's Times about "duties" as a citizen in America I had to pause for a moment, especially when she proclaimed voting as a duty. Voting is not a duty it is a right granted to us under our Constitution. In fact there are only a few responsibilities mentioned in our Constitution. Things like being lawful, loyal to America and serving in our military are specific things mention as civil duties. Love and charity are things people do, not governments.

And not unlike many of her friends who've been writing letters these days, Lucy likes to use the word radical only when it describes things they didn't do. I wonder if Lucy thinks increasing the NH state budget by 24 percent with one time federal stimulus money and expecting to pass that burden on to the taxpayers of NH in the middle of a recession was radical? Or how about creating or raising over 100 new taxes and fees in the middle of a recession? Do you think allowing a man dressed as a woman into women's public bathrooms was a good idea? And who do you think pays for this kind of irresponsible governance?

The so called "radical budget" passed by the current legislature was necessary to avoid passing $800 million in taxes on to NH's people and businesses — a hole left to us by the previous Democrat controlled legislature. And the "war on women" Lucy and other Democrats keep talking about doesn't even exist. It's made up by people who believe scaring other people to get what they want is right.

As I first mentioned, I do believe Lucy Edwards is sincere, but we share a different view of New Hampshire. Lucy believes government comes first and I believe people come first. Shared responsibility in a community is vital, but it's people who make up a community, not governments — government's role is to support the community.

Vote Republican if you want to preserve values that embrace the individual and offer the freedoms and liberties of a truly free society. Going back to unbridled spending at a time we all know we can't afford will limit our abilities to take care of ourselves and our families.

Rep Fred Leonard

Rochester

Vote for Fred Leonard

To the Editor:

I would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to Fred Leonard for his service over the past two years for his work and dedication as a NH state representative. Fred, along with many of the Republican representatives from Rochester, was diligent in helping to bring a better focus on the economy and jobs that seemed to be missing from the previous state legislature.

As a testament to Fred's commitment to helping improve our state's economy and job market, he was recently endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business in New Hampshire. They said Fred's "voting record indicates that you are committed to the needs of the thousands of small businesses and their employees in New Hampshire and NFIB is confident in your continued support for the small business person when you are serving in Concord ."

It is my hope the voters of Rochester Wards 1 and 6 will join me in casting their vote for Fred Leonard, state representative of Strafford District 22, on Nov. 6 and return this proven representative of the people and our businesses to Concord!

Michele Paradiso

Rochester

An extra reason to run

To the Editor:

This morning I had an interesting time reading over Fred Leonard's voting record. It is available on line at Granite State Progress. His votes gave me additional reasons for running again!

His votes on budget and money issues gave his constituents the short end of the stick. For example: He voted to eliminate essential health programs; he voted to severely cut health services to the elderly and disabled; and he voted to gut state subsidies to the state college system; and in addition, he voted to provide corporate giveaways to tobacco companies.

If parents in Wards one and six are wondering why tuition is so high at state colleges thank Fred Leonard! He voted to severely cut our tax subsidies to these colleges. Do we really want someone in Concord who panders to corporate interests while disregarding the needs of our citizens?

Rose Marie Rogers

Candidate for State Representative

Dist. 22 (Wards 1 & 6)

Rochester

Trust women to make their own choices

To the Editor:

At this point, many New Hampshire women have probably heard about the comments of Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, an anti-choice extremist who opposes abortion rights even in the case of rape and incest.

What they might not know is that we have another, even more extreme anti-choice candidate right here in New Hampshire: Ovide Lamontagne. Ovide is a self-proclaimed "Tea Party favorite" who's been running for office and losing for the past 20 years. Now he's the Republican candidate for governor (again), and announced that he still opposes all abortion rights, even in the case of rape and incest — just like Todd Akin.

But Ovide goes even further. He now says he supports a so-called "Human Life Amendment" to the constitution. This amendment would not only overturn Roe v. Wade, it would make abortion illegal, making criminals out of women and their doctors. Not only that, it would even make many forms of birth control and fertility treatments illegal. This amendment is so extreme, even the voters of Mississippi rejected it when it came up on the ballot last year!

Ovide supported Bill O'Brien and his cronies when they defunded Planned Parenthood, and now he wants to go even further, signing on to an anti-choice agenda that includes passing a new law to allow insurance companies to drop coverage for birth control.

Ovide was the wrong choice for New Hampshire women 20 years ago, and he's the wrong choice now. On November 6, vote for Maggie Hassan, who won't allow the government to control our health care choices!

Gail Mitchell

Barrington

Mitt, it's time to wake up!

To the Editor:

We have less than 40 days to go to the election, and unless Mitt Romney shows some fire and passion he may lose. He may even lose his own state (NH) unless he puts an appearance in.

The country is at a crossroads. If we continue down the road we are going we will end up a third-rate world power. Our president seems unable to deal with foreign policy. There is a high risk of a Middle East war. The only thing that the Muslims respect is strength and we must show that. Our economy is stagnant, oil is still high and sucking up a high percentage of our income. If there is trouble in the Middle East, what will fuel oil cost us this winter? People on fixed incomes like myself are being hurt especially hard, with a choice between gas/fuel oil and food.

Romney has to do an outstanding job on the upcoming debate, he has to spell out clearly what he will do on energy jobs, and national defense. He is spending too much time defending himself. This election is a repeat of the 2008 election, with a weak Republican candidate and a lot of scare tactics by the opposition. We have to wake up and realize that Russia and China are not our friends, they trade with us because it suits their purposes. They then arm our enemies, supplying Iran with the latest military equipment.

A lot of people do not know history. Around 1200-1400 A.D., we fought a series of wars with the muslims called the Crusades. We lost most of those wars. Here we are again facing the same situation. The whole summer has been wasted arguing over Medicare, the budget, and women's health, while the world situation deteriorates. The debates are set up on domestic issues, if we do not deal with the foreign issues we won't have to worry about the domestic issues.

Romney is not the perfect candidate, he is so rich he is a target for the opposition, but he only used tax laws that were passed by a Democratic Congress. Some of these tax laws were and are good laws, the low capital gains rate, the earned income credit, and the educational credits. The scare tactics that these benefits will be cut if the Republicans win must not intimidate us.

Although Mitt is not a charismatic candidate he is a steady man, who will think before he acts and while that might not be very entertaining it is safe. There are plenty of highly capable people that he could put in his cabinet such as Rubio, Christie, even Sarah Palin. We have to vote with care in this election, it is truly the most important in the history of this country.

In closing, I wish to express my condolences to the family of John Rigazio, I read many of his articles in the "Times" and he always called it as he saw it. He will be missed.

Sydney A. Rose

Rochester

Mitt exposed

To the Editor:

If you ever wondered whether Mitt Romney cares about middle class and low income Americans, you need not wonder any longer. At a private fundraiser, Mitt showed his true colors. We no longer need to guess how Mitt feels about "the rest of us."

Caught on videotape, Mitt stated that 47 percent of all Americans do not pay taxes and are freeloading off those who do pay taxes. Mitt crassly divides America into two halves: those who matter and the 47 percent whom he does not care about. It is not his job, he said, as a candidate (nor apparently as president), "to worry about those people."

As it turns out, those 47 percent, "undeserving freeloaders" include hard working men and women in low-paying, blue-collar jobs who don't earn enough to owe federal income tax, elderly Americans whose Social Security pensions are too low to be taxed, disabled veterans, and individuals who have been maimed at work. Most of us would hardly consider these individuals "freeloaders." Mitt failed to mention that the 47 percent also includes Americans who, like Mitt, are extremely wealthy, but are able to shelter their income in overseas banks or via tax loopholes.

From his revealing statements, it is clear that Mitt Romney has no intention of being the President of all Americans, but rather will continue to protect the assets of the very rich, who are growing richer on the backs of hard working middle- and low-income families. In order to finance tax breaks for the super rich, Mitt will cut Medicare, Social Security, and other programs that support those in need. As for the very wealthy, they will continue to sink millions into the campaigns of Republicans leaders like Mitt Romney and Congressman Frank Guinta who have taken a pledge never to increase taxes on the very rich, thus allowing the wealthiest Americans to continue to amass their fortunes. For them, it is an investment with high returns.

Beth Olshansky

Durham

Military retirement pay

To the Editor:

Former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, vying to regain the People's Seat, worked diligently on behalf of the Armed Services while serving in Congress. A sampling of her legislative accomplishments include: the Veterans Health Equity Act (provides access to in-state full-service care to NH Vets) and an amendment to the FY2010 NDAA to prohibit the disposal of medical and hazardous waste in open-air burn pits in war-zones. Carol also staunchly defended and secured over $35 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

One of Carol's most important achievements for vets was her House sponsorship of the Military Retirement Pay Fairness Act. This act protects retired military personnel from confronting extreme financial hardship when required to repay separation benefits.

There were thousands of mid-career service members, including the writer of this letter, who accepted an early separation with monetary benefit, during the Post-Cold War drawdown. Thousands of these members were invited back into the military in the mid 1990's when troop strength needed to be restored. There were at least 1101 retirees who reenlisted several years after initial separation, who went on to complete a military career and qualified for retirement pay.

In cases like mine, the Department of Defense (DOD) was mandated to recoup the separation benefit from the member's retirement pay. The repayment formula was draconian and did not consider the economic climate nor the financial standing of the member. The DOD was prepared to recoup an amount equivalent to my monthly mortgage for 27 months until Carol Shea-Porter and Jeanne Shaheen came to my aid. Their legislative work enabled me to negotiate a manageable monthly payment plan that did not impose such an intolerable financial hardship.

My Congresswoman stated, "As a member of the Armed Services Committee and a former military spouse, I understand the unique challenges military families often face. I am so pleased that the NH delegation will be helping not only Master Sergeant Merritt, but also all of the other veterans who are struggling with this unfair repayment formula."

I hope you will join me in November to vote for Carol Shea-Porter, who earned my gratitude and admiration.

Wayne H. Merritt

Dover

Medicare differences

To the Editor:

In response to Lew Henry's Letter to the Editor, Rochester Times Sept 27 2012: I would like to thank you for reading my letter. Also, thank you for your service. I am sorry however that your 'fair share of research' on the matter apparently lead you as far as some Democrat website.

First you are correct that ObamaCare does ban the abuses you claim. Other than that and one other statement I can find no other fact or truth in your letter. Seems you 'appear to have fallen victim to the relentless propaganda machine of the Obama and Shea-Porter campaign'. You claim that it is a myth that Obama cuts Medicare. A simple search on the web for Obama 716 billion Medicare cuts would show about 190,000 results, such as this one from The Washington Post Romney's right: ObamaCare cuts Medicare by $716 billion. Forbes Aug 16 2012: Fact-Check the Obama campaign's defense of its $716 billion cut to Medicare.

The CBO determined http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/121xx/doc12119/03-30-healthcarelegislation.pdf in 2011 that the federal health care law would reduce Medicare outlays by $507 billion between 2012 and 2021. In a more recent estimate http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/43471-hr6079.pdf released this year, the CBO looked at the years 2013 to 2022 and determined the health care law affected Medicare outlays by $716 billion.

You are also correct in that Obama's cuts, you call it savings, do not reduce benefits — $415 billion of the cut comes from fee-for-service payments to doctors and hospitals as I said in my letter. Perhaps you would do the same job for less money, but most hospitals and doctors have expenses to be paid. Why would they take a Medicare patient for less money than a patient with private insurance would pay more? So more doctors drop Medicare patients, what good is insurance if you can't find a doctor to treat you?

The Obama administration's own Medicare actuary explained in his January 26 2012 testimony before Congress that ObamaCare could make 15 percent of hospitals serving Medicare patients unprofitable. As I also said in my last letter for every $1,000 lost in Medicare payments resulted in a 6-8 percent increase in mortality rates. So it doesn't cut benefits as you say, but it would cut quality.

As for your and the other democrat claims of the $6,400 per year increase in health care cost for seniors, has already been, proven to be false.

Most, if not all of these facts were in my previous letter. Since you blindly follow Obama and Shea-Porter, I know you will find some fault with them. But, like history facts are facts.

I can't understand why any veteran or military person or anyone other than those living off those of us that choose to work for a living could support this president, the way he or his administration gives out national security information to terrorist, according to Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) Lies and misleads continually, but being in America it is your right, at least right now it still is, to vote for who you want, regardless of their qualifications or ideology.

John Dority

Rochester

Vote for Steve Beaudoin

To the Editor:

I am writing on behalf of Steve Beaudoin who is running against Sandra Keans as state representative in Ward 2. There is a stark difference between the two.

Steve and his family are well known and respected in our area, having had local businesses. Steve is now retired after 15 years and is running against Sandra Keans because it is time for a make over in the state house. I, personally, want to thank Steve for taking a stand and offering his valuable time for a great cause. Even though the pay is little, the rewards are huge.

Steve will reduce red tape and wasteful spending. He will remove unnecessary taxes and fees and cut regulations on small businesses. He will fight frivolous spending by preventing special interest and unelected agencies from writing there own checks. He is against big government and them encroaching on our personal lives. He believes in private property rights, the 2nd Amendment and personal freedom.

I would put Steve Beaudoin in the same category with Warren Groen and Cliff

Newton, our current representatives, of whom I have great respect and sincere gratitude for all they have done. Steve is down to earth, sincere, true to his beliefs with integrity and unwavering principles. Steve will listen to his constituents and use his common sense to do the "right thing". As a staunch conservative, I truly feel, he will be a tremendous compliment to our already exceptional group of representatives from this city.

Every vote counts, so take the time to vote for Steve Beaudoin in Ward 2 on Nov. 6 and let's say a final farewell to Sandra Keans, who has taken up residency in the state house. We need fresh ideas and sound judgment for the betterment of our city and great state. Steve Beaudoin will make you proud.